NIKKI AND DEJA

The Newsy News Newsletter

Age Range: 7 - 10

Pub Date: Jan. 1st, 2010ISBN: 978-0-547-22247-9Publisher: Clarion

Third graders Nikki and Deja have a lot to learn about journalism. Looking for a way to make a little extra money, learn about their neighbors and get an early start as news reporters, these best friends start a neighborhood newsletter. They publish their first edition with solid news: A man is locked out of his house while wearing a bathrobe, a boy breaks his arm while skateboarding and a neighbor wins a blue ribbon for her roses. Unfortunately, there is not enough news to keep the publication on schedule. Things end badly when the girls put together the second edition, crossing journalistic lines and reporting overheard gossip and supposition. English draws characters with complexity and honesty: Nikki is careful and thoughtful but unable to stand up to Deja; Deja’s decisiveness does, at times, lack good judgment. The adults in the girls’ lives are refreshingly open, creating an anchor for them as they move toward independence. A solid addition to a welcome series for new readers, especially for children who want to read realistic stories about kids of color. (Fiction. 7-10)